Rise of the nano bag: How having a tiny tote is the season's hottest trend... but prices aren't shrinking and being in fashion will set you back up to £2,000 

  • Mini bags - or nano bags - are having a major moment
  • Chloe's Drew bag to the Valentino Rockstud are hot designer buys
  • Size of this season's handbags may be shrinking, but prices certainly aren't

By Bianca London for MailOnline

Published: 09:22 EST, 7 December 2015 | Updated: 10:20 EST, 7 December 2015

They say good things come in small packages and it seems that goes for this season's accessories trend.

Mini bags - or nano bags as they're known among the fash-pack - are having a major moment, with fashion houses shrinking some of their most iconic shapes. 

From Chloe's Drew bag to the Valentino Rockstud, teeny tiny totes are the accessory du jour - but being in fashion will set you back.

Mini bags - or nano bags as they're known among the fash-pack - are having a major moment, with fashion houses shrinking some of their most iconic shapes. Kendall Jenner is a huge fan of the trend, which aims to create the illusion that you're a carefree sophisticate who only needs to carry a phone, credit card and lipstick

Mini bags - or nano bags as they're known among the fash-pack - are having a major moment, with fashion houses shrinking some of their most iconic shapes. Kendall Jenner is a huge fan of the trend, which aims to create the illusion that you're a carefree sophisticate who only needs to carry a phone, credit card and lipstick

The size of this season's handbags may well be shrinking, but the prices certainly aren't. 

Take the Chloe Drew bag, for example, which is described on Net-a-Porter as a 'scaled-down shoulder bag crafted from lustrous gold leather', and comes with a price tag of £875.

Meanwhile, the Arabesque mini embellished leather shoulder bag by Kim Kardashian's favourite designer, Alaïa, costs an eye-watering £1,100.

Tom Ford's signature 'Natalia' bag is also pricey - at a cool £2,470. According to Net-a-Porter 'it's been crafted in Italy from black leather and can be carried cross-body or as a clutch by removing the shoulder strap.'

Tom Ford Natalia small leather shoulder bag, £2,470
Alaïa Arabesque mini embellished leather shoulder bag, £1,100
Saint Laurent Monogramme textured-leather camera bag, £590

The size of this season's handbags may well be shrinking, but the prices certainly aren't. L-R Tom Ford Natalia small leather shoulder bag, £2,470,  Alaïa Arabesque mini embellished leather shoulder bag, £1,100, Saint Laurent Monogramme textured-leather camera bag, £590

Valentino The Rockstud leather shoulder bag, £780
Saint Laurent Monogramme Sac Université medium textured-leather shoulder bag £1,090
Chloe Drew nano textured-leather shoulder bag, £750

L-R: Valentino The Rockstud leather shoulder bag, £780, Saint Laurent Monogramme Sac Université medium textured-leather shoulder bag £1,090, Chloe Drew nano textured-leather shoulder bag, £750

Celebrities have caught onto the trend, too. Jessica Alba, left, opts for a simple black leather mini bag
Kourtney Kardashian, right, crams her possessions into a stylish Pandora Box Mini-Crossbody by Givenchy, which costs over £1,000

Celebrities have caught onto the trend, too. Jessica Alba, left, opts for a simple black leather mini bag whilst Kourtney Kardashian, right, crams her possessions into a stylish Pandora Box Mini-Crossbody by Givenchy, which costs over £1,000

The trend was born on the catwalks with virtually every designer - from Fendi to Balenciaga - unveiling doll-size versions of their popular handbags and turning them into miniature cross-body envelopes and top-handle bowler bags.

Celebrities have caught onto the trend, too. Model-of-the-moment Kendall Jenner loves a fun-size bag, whilst her big sister, Kourtney Kardashian, is also a fan.

The idea behind the new movement is that, supposedly, by toting a smaller handbag, you're creating the illusion of being a carefree sophisticate who only needs to carry a phone, credit card and lipstick. 

As The Sunday Times Style's Claudia Croft explains: 'If you are the kind of woman who can't leave the house without a spare pair of shoes, full make-up nag, 17 credit cards, gym kit, packed lunch and a copy of War and Peace, then some serious lifestyle changes will be necessary to participate in this trend.' 

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